PDP Faction: Why We Want to Celebrate President Tinubu, Nyesom Wike in Bayelsa

•Bayelsa Government: It’s ill-timed, there is tension

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Factional Zonal Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in South-south and Convener of Bayelsa Mega Rally for Tinubu and Wike, George Turnah, has explained why Bayelsa State was the ideal place to celebrate President Bola Tinubu and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

But the Bayelsa State government, through the Commissioner for Information and Youth Development, Alfred Kemepado, said the planned rally was ill-timed because of the likely spill over of the effects and tensions being generated by the recent state of emergency declared in neighbouring Rivers State.

Turnah, however, said the planned rally by the New Associate group was not an endorsement of Tinubu’s second term, although it was reportedly a PDP faction loyal to Wike.

Both Turnah and Kemepado spoke on Arise Television’s “The Morning Show” yesterday.

Turnah said in addition to the rally, the group planned to thank and celebrate Wike and Tinubu for appointing some notable sons and daughters of Bayelsa State into his administration.

He stated, “Why are we doing the rally in Bayelsa? The New Associate is a grassroots organisation. We want to inaugurate the Bayelsa State chapter and in doing so, we also want to do a rally to thank Mr President for his choices of appointment of some notable sons and daughters of Bayelsa State, which in our estimation are performing and doing very well.”

Kemepado, however, said the recent interview by Wike which denigrated the Ijaw ethnic groups did not help matters, as it was capable of inflaming tensions during the rally.

According to him, “Bayelsa is a peaceful state but the recent interview where the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, was seen denigrating the Ijaw nation is a reckless statement and there is the fear that if the rally is allowed to hold that tensions may roll over to crisis.

“The position of the Bayelsa State government is that the planned rally is ill-timed and, therefore, should be shifted at least for now.”

Bayelsa State Governor Duoye Diri had recently warned against the group’s plan to organise a rally or host Wike in his state.

The governor said the planned rally was a plot by a “PDP renegade” to disrupt the peace in his state.

Diri warned, “As you are aware, we have threats from our sister state. The political crisis there is threatening us and we will not allow what is happening there to come into Bayelsa State.

“Any attempt to import the Rivers State political crisis into Bayelsa will be resisted. I urge security commanders in the state to be on the alert.

“Parents and traditional rulers should discourage their wards and children from being used by unscrupulous elements to cause trouble in the state.”

In spite of the governor’s warning, Turnah said the rally would take place in the state but not on any Bayelsa State Government property.

The rally is billed to hold April 12.